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Trade, accumulation and the state in Asante in the nineteenth century1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2011

Kwame Arhin
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Extract

This article examines well-known facts about Asante trade in the nineteenth century with a view to defining the contribution of trade to accumulation. The question of accumulation becomes significant when considered in relation to recent directions in Asante economic, social and political history. These have featured the role of the precolonial Asante state in the development of its economy (Wilks, 1967; 1975; McCaskie, 1980), stratification (Wilks, 1975; McCaskie, 1980; 1983; 1986; Arhin, 1983a; 1983b; 1986a), and what may be called the paradox of colonial rule, that it liberalised accumulative forces in order to enhance its exploitative opportunities (Arhin, 1974; 1975).

Résumé

Commerce et accumulation des richesses chez Ies Achantis au dix-neuvième siècle

L'article procède à un nouvel examen des témoignages existants sur le commerce achanti au dix-neuvième siècle, afin d'évaluer si les bénéfices tirés du commerce ont véritablement contribué au développement économique des Achantis ou, au contraire, n'ont servi qu'à financer l'expansionnisme militaire de l'État achanti et à assouvir sa soif de richesses. L'auteur réfute la théorie de Wilks, selon laquelle les Achantis suivaient une idéologie de développement et préparaient la croissance économique. Il soutient que les commerçants achantis étaient en faveur des conquêtes coloniales du royaume achanti parce qu'ils les considéraient, de façon paradoxale, comme un moyen de ‘démocratiser’ l'accès aux richesses—d'où l'importance de la période coloniale—alors que les régimes militaires et à parti unique d'aujourd'hui (à l'inverse de celui de Nkrumah) prônent un retour à un système patrimonial et à la monopolisation des richesses.

Type
The political risks of wealth
Information
Africa , Volume 60 , Issue 4 , October 1990 , pp. 524 - 537
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1990

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References

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